Judge Who Obstructed ICE Spared Jail

It’s nice that there are different standards of justice in the system. I bet if you obstructed the judicial proceedings in her court room you’d end up in the slammer

Former Wisconsin judge spared prison for obstructing ICE arrest of Mexican immigrant

Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan was spared from prison Wednesday for ushering a Mexican defendant out of her courtroom to evade US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. A federal judge fined her $5,000 and cited her otherwise law-abiding life in issuing the sentence.

Dugan, 67, was convicted of felony obstruction in December. Her lawyers argued during her trial that President Donald Trump’s administration sought to “crush” Dugan in an effort to ensure judicial compliance with the ICE strategy of targeting immigrants as they showed up for court hearings. (snip)

“I have been cast as both a scofflaw and a hero. I am neither. I am a public servant who’s just trying to do my job,” Dugan said, adding that she has had to retire from public life due to threats against her and her family.

A prosecutor then acknowledged that “she has experienced collateral damage because of her conduct,” but said “judges can’t choose to disregard the law.”

US District Judge Lynn Adelman then spoke, saying Dugan made a bad decision and that he doesn’t believe prison is necessary.

“This is a few minutes of conduct for someone who has dedicated her life to public service,” the judge said. “It’s a marked deviation from an otherwise law-abiding life.”

I bet Adelman has sentenced many people to jail who were good, upstanding citizens but made one quick mistake. What Dugan did was make a consciences choice to violate federal law.

Under federal sentencing guidelines, the presentence report calls for 15 to 21 months behind bars. The judge is not bound by those guidelines.

But, nope. Nice to have pals making decisions in court.